Bingo Calls List 1–90: Every Traditional Nickname Explained
Every number in classic UK 90-ball bingo has a traditional nickname — a short, often rhyming phrase the caller shouts out before announcing the number. These bingo calls (sometimes called bingo lingo or bingo nicknames) date back decades and are part of what makes British bingo such a beloved cultural institution.
Below you'll find the complete list of all 90 traditional bingo calls, along with the meaning or origin of each one. Some come from rhyming slang, others from history, military life, pop culture, or just plain visual resemblance between the number and an object.
Complete bingo calls table (1–90)
Tap any row to see the call. On mobile, the origin column is hidden — rotate your phone to see everything.
| # | Call | Meaning / Origin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelly's Eye | Possibly a reference to Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, who wore a famous metal helmet with a single eye-slit. Also linked to British military slang. |
| 2 | One Little Duck | The number 2 looks like a duck swimming on water — the curve of its neck and body match the silhouette. |
| 3 | Cup of Tea | Simple rhyme: "three" rhymes with "tea" — and nothing is more British than a cuppa. |
| 4 | Knock at the Door | From the nursery rhyme "One, two, buckle my shoe; three, four, knock at the door." |
| 5 | Man Alive | A classic rhyming exclamation — "five" rhymes with "alive." |
| 6 | Tom Mix / Half a Dozen | Tom Mix was a famous American silent-film cowboy ("Mix" rhymes with "six"). Also called "half a dozen." |
| 7 | Lucky Seven | Seven is widely considered a lucky number across cultures — in dice, religion and folklore. |
| 8 | Garden Gate / One Fat Lady | Cockney rhyming slang: "garden gate" rhymes with "eight." The shape of 8 also looks like a curvy figure. |
| 9 | Doctor's Orders | During WWII, "Number 9" was a laxative pill given out by army medics — so "doctor's orders" became the joke. |
| 10 | (Boris's / Theresa's / Cameron's) Den | A reference to 10 Downing Street, the residence of the UK Prime Minister. The name rotates with each new PM. |
| 11 | Legs Eleven | The two 1s look like a pair of legs. Players traditionally wolf-whistle in response to this call. |
| 12 | One Dozen | Twelve items make a dozen — straightforward. |
| 13 | Unlucky for Some | Thirteen is widely considered an unlucky number in Western superstition (triskaidekaphobia). |
| 14 | Valentine's Day | February 14th — the day of love, hearts and flowers. |
| 15 | Young and Keen | A rhyme: "fifteen" matches "keen." The age suggests youthful energy. |
| 16 | Sweet Sixteen / Never Been Kissed | A coming-of-age reference — sixteen is associated with first love and innocence. |
| 17 | Dancing Queen | From the famous ABBA song: "You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen." |
| 18 | Coming of Age | In the UK, 18 is the legal age of adulthood — the right to vote, drink, and marry without consent. |
| 19 | Goodbye Teens | Nineteen is the last teenage year before adulthood at 20. |
| 20 | One Score / Getting Plenty | "Score" is an old English word for twenty (as in "four score and seven years ago"). The alternative is rhyming slang. |
| 21 | Key of the Door | In older British tradition, 21 was the age you got "the key of the door" — full independence and adult rights. |
| 22 | Two Little Ducks | Two 2s look like two ducks side by side. Players sometimes quack in response. |
| 23 | Thee and Me / The Lord is My Shepherd | A simple rhyme: "three" with "me." The biblical reference comes from Psalm 23. |
| 24 | Two Dozen | Two dozen items = 24. |
| 25 | Duck and Dive | Cockney rhyming slang — "dive" rhymes with "five," and "duck" comes from the 2 looking like a duck. |
| 26 | Pick and Mix / Half a Crown | "Mix" rhymes with "six." A half-crown coin (pre-decimal UK currency) was worth 2 shillings 6 pence. |
| 27 | Gateway to Heaven | A poetic rhyme: "seven" with "heaven" — also a reference to a famous Led Zeppelin song. |
| 28 | Over Weight / In a State | Old rhyming slang. "Eight" rhymes with both "weight" and "state." |
| 29 | Rise and Shine | "Nine" rhymes with "shine" — a cheerful morning expression. |
| 30 | Dirty Gertie | A WWII soldiers' nickname for the statue "La Délivrance" in north London, famously naked — "Gertie" rhymes with "thirty." |
| 31 | Get Up and Run | A rhyme: "one" with "run." |
| 32 | Buckle My Shoe | From the same nursery rhyme as #4: "One, two, buckle my shoe." |
| 33 | All the Threes / Dirty Knees | Repetition of the same digit. "Knees" rhymes with "threes." |
| 34 | Ask for More | A rhyme: "four" with "more" — possibly a Charles Dickens reference (Oliver Twist: "Please, sir, I want some more"). |
| 35 | Jump and Jive | Rhymes with "five." Jump and jive was a popular swing-era dance style. |
| 36 | Three Dozen | Three dozen = 36. |
| 37 | More than Eleven | A rhyme: "seven" with "eleven." |
| 38 | Christmas Cake | "Eight" rhymes with "cake." Christmas cake is a traditional British holiday treat. |
| 39 | Steps | A reference to John Buchan's 1915 novel and Hitchcock's 1935 film "The 39 Steps," both classic British thrillers. |
| 40 | Life Begins | From the famous saying "life begins at 40" — the idea that real life only starts after maturity. |
| 41 | Time for Fun | Simple rhyme: "one" with "fun." |
| 42 | Winnie the Pooh | "Two" rhymes with "Pooh" — the beloved A.A. Milne bear. Also "the answer to life, the universe and everything" from Hitchhiker's Guide. |
| 43 | Down on Your Knees | A rhyme: "three" with "knees" — sometimes a reference to wartime supplications. |
| 44 | Droopy Drawers | The two 4s look like sagging trousers. Also called "all the fours." |
| 45 | Halfway There | 45 is exactly half of 90 — the midpoint of the game. |
| 46 | Up to Tricks | A rhyme: "six" with "tricks." |
| 47 | Four and Seven | Just stating the digits — the simplest call on the list. |
| 48 | Four Dozen | Four dozen = 48. |
| 49 | PC / Rise and Shine | "PC 49" was a popular British radio and TV police drama in the 1940s and 50s. |
| 50 | Half a Century / Bullseye | Half of 100. A "bullseye" in darts is worth 50 points. |
| 51 | Tweak of the Thumb / I Love My Mum | Rhymes with "one." Modern bingo halls often use the more family-friendly "I love my mum." |
| 52 | Danny La Rue / Weeks in a Year | Danny La Rue was a famous British drag entertainer — "La Rue" rhymes with "two." Also: 52 weeks in a year. |
| 53 | Stuck in a Tree / Here Comes Herbie | "Three" with "tree." Herbie was the Volkswagen Beetle from the Disney films, with racing number 53. |
| 54 | Clean the Floor | Rhymes with "four." |
| 55 | Snakes Alive | The two 5s resemble coiled snakes. "Alive" rhymes with "five." |
| 56 | Was She Worth It? / Shotts Bus | A pre-decimal slang — 5 shillings and 6 pence was the cost of a marriage license, prompting "was she worth it?" The bus to Shotts (Scotland) was the 56. |
| 57 | Heinz Varieties | From the famous "Heinz 57 Varieties" advertising slogan, used since 1896. |
| 58 | Make Them Wait / Choo Choo Thomas | Rhyming play on "eight." The train reference comes from Thomas the Tank Engine. |
| 59 | Brighton Line | The 5:59 was a famous train service from London to Brighton in the early 20th century. |
| 60 | Five Dozen / Grandma's Getting Frisky | Five dozen = 60. The cheekier alternative is just for fun. |
| 61 | Baker's Bun | "One" rhymes with "bun." A baker's dozen is 13, but the call just plays on the rhyme. |
| 62 | Turn on the Screw / Tickety Boo | "Two" with "screw" or "boo." "Tickety-boo" means everything is fine. |
| 63 | Tickle Me 63 | A simple rhyming call — also a reference to the comedian Ken Dodd's catchphrase "How tickled I am!" |
| 64 | Red Raw / Almost Retired | "Four" with "raw." 65 was the historical UK retirement age, so 64 is "almost there." Also a Beatles song reference: "When I'm 64." |
| 65 | Old Age Pension / Stop Work | 65 was the traditional UK retirement age when state pensions kicked in. |
| 66 | Clickety Click | The repeated 6s sound (and look) like a typewriter or train wheels — "clickety click." |
| 67 | Made in Heaven / Stairway to Heaven | "Seven" with "heaven." |
| 68 | Saving Grace / Pick a Mate | "Eight" rhymes with "grace" or "mate." |
| 69 | Anyway Up / Either Way Up / Meal for Two | 69 reads the same upside down — "anyway up." It's also a famous (cheeky) sex position, hence "meal for two." |
| 70 | Three Score and Ten | "Three score and ten" = 70 (3 × 20 + 10) — the traditional biblical lifespan from Psalm 90. |
| 71 | Bang on the Drum / Lucky One | Just rhymes with "one." |
| 72 | Six Dozen / Danny La Rue | Six dozen = 72. The Danny La Rue reference is more commonly used for 52. |
| 73 | Queen Bee / Crosby's Den | "Three" with "bee." The Queen reference may be patriotic. |
| 74 | Candy Store / Hit the Floor | "Four" with "store" or "floor." |
| 75 | Strive and Strive / Big Daddy | "Five" with "strive." Also referred to American 75-ball bingo as a regional joke. |
| 76 | Trombones | From the famous song "Seventy-Six Trombones" in the 1957 musical "The Music Man." |
| 77 | Sunset Strip / Two Little Crutches | "77 Sunset Strip" was a popular American detective TV series (1958–1964). The 7s also resemble crutches. |
| 78 | Heaven's Gate / 39 More Steps | "Eight" with "gate." The 39 Steps reference doubles the count from #39. |
| 79 | One More Time | "Nine" with "time." Possibly a reference to encore performances. |
| 80 | Gandhi's Breakfast / Eight and Blank | A historic British joke — 8 and 0 looking like a plate with nothing on it ("ate-nothing"), tied to images of Mahatma Gandhi fasting. |
| 81 | Stop and Run / Fat Lady with a Walking Stick | "One" with "run." The 8 is a curvy figure and the 1 is the walking stick. |
| 82 | Straight On Through / Fat Lady with a Duck | "Two" with "through." The 8 is the lady, the 2 is the duck. |
| 83 | Time for Tea / Fat Lady with a Flea | "Three" with "tea" or "flea." |
| 84 | Seven Dozen | Seven dozen = 84. |
| 85 | Staying Alive | From the famous Bee Gees song from the 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever." "Five" rhymes with "alive." |
| 86 | Between the Sticks | "Sticks" with "six." In football, "between the sticks" means in goal (between the goal posts). |
| 87 | Torquay in Devon / Fat Lady with a Crutch | "Devon" rhymes with "seven." Torquay is a famous British seaside town. |
| 88 | Two Fat Ladies / Wobbly Wobbly | The two 8s look like two curvy figures side by side — possibly the most famous bingo call of all. |
| 89 | Nearly There / Almost There | Just one number away from the highest possible call — 90. |
| 90 | Top of the Shop / End of the Line | 90 is the highest number in the game — literally at the top. The game ends here. |
Where do these bingo calls come from?
Traditional UK bingo calls developed in British military halls and seaside resorts during and after the Second World War, when bingo (then called "Housey-Housey") became a beloved pastime among soldiers and working-class communities. Many calls reflect the era they were born in:
Cockney rhyming slang. A traditional London street language where words are replaced by rhyming phrases. Calls like "garden gate" (8), "stuck in a tree" (53) and "trombones" (76) all follow this pattern.
Visual resemblance. Some numbers simply look like things: 2 like a duck, 88 like two curvy figures, 11 like a pair of legs, 69 like… well, you get the idea. These are the easiest calls to remember.
Cultural and historical references. "Doctor's orders" (9) comes from a WWII laxative pill. "Top of the Shop" (90) refers to old market stalls. "PC 49" was a popular postwar radio drama. "Heinz Varieties" (57) is a 19th-century advertising slogan still going strong.
Pop culture. Modern callers update some calls with contemporary references: "Dancing Queen" (17) from ABBA, "Staying Alive" (85) from the Bee Gees, "Winnie the Pooh" (42) from A.A. Milne. The "10 Downing Street" call cycles with each new Prime Minister.
Are bingo calls still used today?
Yes — but the tradition has changed. Modern UK bingo halls and online bingo callers still use the classic nicknames, but some of the older or more risqué calls have been retired or replaced with more family-friendly versions. For example, "Tweak of the Thumb" (51) is often replaced by "I Love My Mum," and "Was She Worth It?" (56) has fallen out of common use.
Online 90-ball bingo callers like this one typically include the traditional nicknames for each number, which the voice announces alongside the number itself. It's part of what makes British bingo distinctive — and why a traditional call like "Two Fat Ladies, eighty-eight!" feels so different from American 75-ball bingo, which uses simple letter-number combinations like "B-12" or "G-49."
Can I use these calls at my own bingo night?
Absolutely — and you should! Using traditional bingo calls makes hosting a bingo night much more fun, especially in the UK or Ireland. Players will recognise calls like "Legs Eleven" or "Two Fat Ladies" and often shout responses ("wolf whistle!" "wobbly wobbly!"). It turns a number-calling exercise into a shared cultural experience.
If you're hosting your own game, the free online bingo caller automatically announces each number with its traditional nickname using a British English voice. No need to memorise all 90 — the caller does it for you.
Frequently asked questions about bingo calls
Why is 88 called "Two Fat Ladies"?
The two 8s side-by-side look like two curvy female figures. It's one of the oldest and most
recognisable calls — and players often respond with "wobbly wobbly!"
What is the response to "Legs Eleven"?
Players traditionally wolf-whistle. The call comes from the visual: two 1s resemble a pair of legs.
Why is 9 called "Doctor's Orders"?
During WWII, "Number 9" was the army's nickname for a laxative pill prescribed by medics. It became
slang for "what the doctor told you to do."
What does "Top of the Shop" mean?
90 is the highest number in 90-ball bingo, so it's literally at the top of the bingo board — the
"shop" being old slang for the game's number selection.
Are American bingo calls different?
Yes — American 75-ball bingo uses letter-number combinations (B-12, I-22, N-37, G-52, O-67) instead
of nicknames. Traditional bingo calls are mainly a British and Irish tradition.